ANIMAL TECHNICIAN III

The Scripps Research Institute; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 33,062 - 38,572; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer retirement plan

Health and welfare plans

Flexible Spending Accounts

Vacation and sick leave

Free on-site parking

Job summary

The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA is seeking an Animal Technician III to care for research animals, monitor health, and assist with procedures under veterinary guidance.

The role requires high school completion, 5+ years of animal care, and relevant certifications or degrees. Strong communication and teamwork are essential for maintaining records and complying with procedures.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Minimum five years of animal care experience.
• Bachelor's degree in life science, Associate's degree in veterinary technology, or AALAS cert may substitute for total experience.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective interpersonal relation skills.
• Flexible weekend/holiday work schedule; ability to work weekend/holiday rotations.

Responsibilities

• Care for research animals daily; maintain a clean environment and observe overall health.
• Conduct daily health observations and complete health reports.
• Perform health treatments under veterinary staff guidance.
• Transfer animals to clean cages and manage feed, water and bedding.
• Maintain animal records and logs (breeder cards, inventories, etc.).
• Euthanize animals per written procedures and assist with necropsies.

Skills

Animal care

Health monitoring

Record keeping

Communication

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

AALAS certification or veterinary tech degree

Job description

Overview

Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute with a long legacy of discoveries across immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute includes multiple research departments and programs that blend foundational science with translational work.

Position Title

Animal Technician III

Responsibilities and Duties

• Care for research animals on a daily basis, maintain a clean environment, and observe the overall health of the animals.
• Conduct daily animal health observations and complete health reports identifying sick animals.
• Perform animal health treatments with direction from veterinary staff.
• Transfer animals from dirty to clean caging, provide appropriate feed, water and bedding; notify appropriate personnel of abnormal conditions.
• Clean, sanitize, and autoclave caging and equipment; refill water bottles; clean or replace excreta pans or pads as needed.
• May breed rodents, identify pregnant animals, wean animals, and perform routine technical procedures such as tailing, bleeds, and injections.
• Maintain animal records including breeder cards, production logs, pedigree charts, inventory sheets, and treatment logs.
• Permanently identify animals by ear tag, ear notch, or tattoo.
• Euthanize animals according to written procedures.
• Receive and ship animals; report discrepancies to appropriate personnel.
• Perform clinical and research-related techniques such as injections, sampling of bodily fluids, and tissue harvest.
• Communicate with research staff on issues involving animal health, breeding, or regulatory matters.
• Maintain cagewash equipment and perform preventative maintenance such as descaling tanks and polishing machines.
• Perform general housekeeping duties; properly dispose of waste.
• Assist with the health monitoring program, including testing for parasites, performing physical examinations, or necropsies.
• Receive and inventory feed, bedding, and supplies; autoclave feed, bedding, and cages in preparation for use.
• May perform specialized tasks in hazard containment rooms, quarantine areas, or animal facilities while adhering to biohazard regulations and clean-to-soiled traffic flow.
• Adhere to department guidelines and standard operating procedures.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Minimum five years of animal care experience.
• A Bachelor's degree in a life science, Associate's degree in veterinary technology, or AALAS certification with one to three years of animal care experience may substitute for total experience required.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective interpersonal relation skills.
• Demonstrated competency in technical procedures.
• Flexible weekend/holiday work schedule; those not assigned to a Dedicated Weekend Schedule (Fri-Mon) or Sat/Sun-only schedule must be able to work weekend and holiday rotations.

Physical Requirements

With or without reasonable accommodation, ability to work with animals for up to 8 hours a day and lift feed bags and animal cages up to 50 pounds; perform repetitive motions with arms, wrists, and hands. May involve gloves and exposure to animal dander and dust. Details of essential functions will be discussed during the interview process.

Compensation

The expected hiring range for this position is $24 to $28 per hour, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.

Comprehensive Benefits Include

• Employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) with option to contribute to a 403(b).
• Full suite of health and welfare plans including three medical plan options (with an optional HSA), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP, and more.
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care).
• Competitive vacation and sick leave policies.
• Free on-site parking.

The above statements describe the level of work performed in general terms. They are not intended to list all responsibilities, duties, or skills required and are subject to change due to business needs. Nothing in this job description alters the at-will employment status of Scripps Research staff.

EEO Statement

The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture, and background in the sciences. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.